Died after many years of ill-health. A qualified, but not practising lawyer, he was seen, until the onset of illness at historic events. Vaccarella won what was considered by both himself and his fellow Sicilians as his event - the Targa Florio - three times; in 1965, 1971 and then 1975. He also won the Nurburgring 1000kms in 1964, which was the same year that he won at Le Mans and then in 1970, he also won the Sebring 12 Hours. Nino started racing after his father died, beginning in hillclimbing in 1956, driving his father's car. After his last Targa win in 1975, Vaccarella quit racing. Nino was additionally linked with the sport via his son, Giovanni, but Giovanni's career ended when he was seriously injured and left wheel-chair bound after a crash at the Targa Florio in 1993. Nino was awarded a special prize by Le Mans in 2016. He will always remain one of Sicily's all-time racing heroes.

Biography last updated 23 Sep 2021